Has there ever been a mountain lion sighting in Connecticut?

Has there ever been a mountain lion sighting in Connecticut?

By MICHAEL DINAN | August 18, 2021 Someone told New Canaan police that a mountain lion was spotted on Gerdes Road, just north of the Darien-New Canaan border, at about 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 14. The sighting on Gerdes Road is the third in the past month and very close to the most recent one, on Aug.

What to do if a mountain lion is in front of you?

Protect Yourself from Mountain Lions

  1. Stay calm. Hold your ground and back away slowly.
  2. Do not approach a lion. Never approach a mountain lion, especially one that is feeding or with kittens.
  3. Do not run from a lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase.
  4. Do not crouch down or bend over.

What time of day do mountain lions come out?

Mountain lions are solitary animals, traveling alone except during mating season or when a female is supporting young. They can be seen at any time of the day or night, but are most active at dawn and dusk, corresponding with deer activity. Mountain lions are carnivores (meat eaters) and prey mostly on deer.

Do mountain lions live in Connecticut?

Although there are numerous reported sightings of mountain lions in Connecticut every year, the animals have actually been extinct in this state for more than a century. State conservation officials believe this photo, taken in Greenwich in 2011, shows a mountain lion.

Are there wolves in CT?

“Connecticut has become home to the eastern coyote (Canis latrans var.) And for anyone worried about encountering a gray wolf in Connecticut, Vann said there are no wolves in our state. The closest population is in Algonquin Park, Quebec, Canada.

Are there mountain lions in Connecticut?

According to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), there are simply no mountain lions in Connecticut but many people would disagree. Mountain lions, also known as cougars, are very quiet as they hunt and are sometimes known as ghosts of the forest according to connecticutmag.com.

Is a cougar the same thing as a mountain lion?

The mountain lion—also known as the cougar, puma, panther, or catamount—is a large cat species native to the Americas. Mountain lions are large, tan cats. Their bodies are mainly covered in tawny-beige fur, except for the whitish-gray belly and chest.

What are cougars afraid of?

While many people fear the possibility of running into one of these big cats on a hike or in the wilderness, it turns out cougars are perhaps even more startled by the sound of a human’s voice. So much so that they are willing to abandon a fresh kill.

What time of year do mountain lions mate?

Reproduction and Offspring: There is no fixed mating season, but in North America, the majority of births occur between late winter and early spring. Females tend to reproduce every other year, and give birth to litters of 1 – 6 (usually 2-3) cougar kittens after a gestation of 90-96 days.

How many mountain lions are in Connecticut?

Mountain Lions: They are officially extinct. Despite frequent claims, there has only been one confirmed mountain lion sighting since the late 1800s here.

Is there a mountain lion in Milford CT?

But other than the one killed by a motor vehicle on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford on June 11, 2011 — the only confirmed presence of a mountain lion in Connecticut in recent times — none of myriad other reports have any tangible evidence to show that mountain lions actually roam our towns, meadows, or forests.

When was the last mountain lion in Connecticut?

Mountain Lions written by Ray Bendici The Damned Story: Eastern mountain lions, or pumas or cougars, were last officially seen in Connecticut near the end of the 19th century. A threat to livestock, they were hunted out of the state and driven to parts more wild.

Are there mountain lions or sea monsters in Connecticut?

While other states have their Bigfoot and sea monster sightings, in Connecticut, and throughout much of the Northeast, we see mountain lions — even when we’re told such sightings are unlikely, if not outright impossible.

Are there Mountain Lions in Litchfield Hills, CT?

Statistically, this would indicate that there is a substantial population of mountain lions in Connecticut. Several years ago, during a Litchfield Hills Audubon Society meeting, one individual reported seeing a mountain lion.